Closure



May 28, 1957 If f9 R. WALKER CLOSURE Filed Sept. 28, 1954 a INVENTOR.if; 1? 0,2191? walker ATTORNEYS nit SW8- Pe -ea 71 2,793,786 H CLOSURE fRobert Walker, New Lisbon, Wis. v Application Septembe 23, 19s4,'sen;tiNo. 458,891 .f i

3 Claims; totem-32y This invention relates to a closure, and moreparticularly to a dust-proof closure for containers holding fluid suchas milk.

The object of the invention is to provide a closure or or cover whichcan be readily locked or unlocked on a container and wherein the coverin its closed or locked position will effectively seal an openingwithout the necessity of using gaskets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfsealing dust coverfor closing manholes or the like that are in tanks that contain fluidsuch as milk, there being a clamp provided for preventing accidentalopening of the cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dustproof cover whichis extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the closure ofthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the closure.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the closure showing thespring clamp.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates a body thatmay be part of a container for holding fluid such as milk, and the body10 includes a circular fiat portion 11 that has a collar 12 extendingupwardly and inwardly therefrom, Figures 1 and 3. The collar 12converges inwardly from the inner edge of the flat portion 11, and theupper end of the collar 12 terminates in a horizontally disposed flange14. The flange 14 is provided with a circular central opening 15 whichmay be used for any suitable purpose, as for example for filling thecontainer with fluid such as milk.

A closure is provided for closing the manhole or opening 15, and theclosure or cover is indicated generally by the numeral 16. The cover 16includes a cylindrical main portion 17 and a top portion 18 which may beof arcuate shape. The lower edge of the cover 16 is rolled outwardly andupwardly as at 19 to provide a curved lip, and this lip 19 engages thecollar 12 to provide an effective seal between these parts. A means isprovided for pivotally connecting the cover 16 to the body 10, and thismeans comprises a pair of spaced parallel apertured ears 20 which extendupwardly from the flat portion 11 and are secured thereto in anysuitable manner, as for example by welding. A pin 21 pivotally connectsa finger 22 to the ears 20, and the finger 22 is secured to the main portion 17 of the cover 16 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A clam-ping means is provided for retaining the cover in its closedposition, and this clamping means comprises lugs 23 which extendupwardly from the flat portion 11 and are secured thereto, and a pivotpin 24 hingedly connects a hollow casing 25 to the lugs 23. A rod 26 isslidably or reciprocably arranged in the casing 25, and

and the keeper 28 is adapted to have one of its ends en an enlarged head27 is arranged on the inner end of the rod '26. A coil spring 31 iscircu'mposed on the rod 26, and the? coil spring 31 is interposedbetween'thehead 27 and the upper end 32 of the casing-25. Secured to theupper-oroute'r end of the rod 26 is a keeper-or arm 28,

gage the upper flat surface 30 of a shoulder 29 which extends outwardlyfrom'the cover 16. Thus, with the parts asf show'n'in Figure 3 the cover16 will be retained'in its closed'position. Then, when the cover is tobe raised or pivotedal'aoutthe pin 21, it is only necessary to manuallylift the keeper 28 and then rotate the keeper 28 slightly to clear theshoulder 29 so that the cover'16 can then be swung" open. Thecoil'spring 31 retains thecover closed when the parts are in theposition shown in Figure 3.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a closurefor an opening such as the opening 15. In use the clamp including thekeeper 28 will retain the cover 16 in its closed position so that nodust or other foreign matter can pass through the opening 15 into theinterior of a container. Thus, a seal is effected between the inclinedcollar 12 and the rolled lip 19 when the parts are in the position shownin the drawings and the coil spring 31 urges the head 27 downwardly sothat the keeper 28 engages the flat surface 30 of the shoulder 29 toprevent accidental opening of the cover. Then, when the cover is to beopened as when the contents of the container are to be replenished orrefilled, it is only necessary to manually raise the keeper 28 againstthe tension of the coil spring 31 and then rotate the keeper 28 slightlyso that it clears the shoulder 29. Then, the cover 16 can be raised orswung open.

The lip 19 seats against the collar 12 and the collar 12 is formed at anangle of approximately 10 with respect to the horizontal plane. The dustcover of the present invention is especially suitable for use with tankscontaining milk or other fluids whereby manholes in such ranged at anangle of approximately 10, there will be a continuous seal all aroundthe opening due to the spring clamp.

I claim:

1. In combination, a body including a circular flat portion, an annularcollar extending upwardly from the inner edge of said flat portion andconverging inwardly, a horizontally disposed circular flange extendinginwardly from the upper portion of said collar and provided with acentral circular opening, a pair of apertured ears extending upwardlyfrom said flat portion and secured thereto, a cover including acylindrical vertically disposed main portion having an outwardly andupwardly rolled lip on its lower end forming a gutter for engagementwith said collar, and a finger secured to said main portion of the coverand pivotally connected to said ears.

2. In combination, a body including a circular flat portion, an annularcollar extending upwardly from the inner edge of said fiat portion andconverging inwardly, a horizontally disposed circular flange extendinginwardly from the upper portion of said collar and provided with acentral circular opening, a pair of apertured ears extending upwardlyfrom said flat portion and secured thereto, a cover including acylindrical vertically disposed main portion having an outwardly andupwardly rolled lip on its lower end forming a gutter for engagementwith said collar, a finger secured to said main portion of the cover andpivotally connected to said ears, and means for clamping said cover tosaid flat portion.

3 3. Incomhination, a'body-including a circular flat portion, an annularcollar extending upwardly from the inner edge of said flat portion andconverging inwardly, a horizontally disposed circular flange extendinginwardly from the upp er portion of said collar and provided -with-,acen: 5 tral circulanopening, a pair of apertured, ears extending;upwardlyfromsaid flat-portion, and secured5thereto, acover including acylindrical vertically disposed, main; portion haying an outwardly andupwardly rolled-;lip --on;l its lowerend forming a gutter forengagementwith -said 10 collanafinger secured to said main portion-ofthe cover ipi o a y; conn d to s d a n "mc ns,f0.r: np-- ing saidzcoverto-said fiat portion, said means cornprising a shoulder secured totheexterior, of said: cover andjncl ing: an upper flat surface,aperturedjugs secured;,tcn-sa t: 2011- 01 a a ing, hav ng. lower n p -voally on-.- nectedto said lugs, arod reeiprocably arranged igsaid a ndihang a ead n ji t n e r nd, a coil; sari- 2,:-

circumposed on said rod and abutting said head; and a keeper secured tothe outer end, of saidrodjor engagement with the flat surface of saidshoulder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSMcFarland Feb. 23, 1886 Gulick r Dec. 17, 1901 Steel Aug. 15, 1911Meilinger June 3, 1919 Warren- ,No v. 21, 1922 Jackson 'L. Dec: 29; 1925FOREIGN' 'PAT-E-NTS- Italy June 27, 1931 Germany Jan. 31, 1952

